A Quicker, Cheaper Test for Turkey Viruses

A new, highly sensitive diagnostic test to detect viruses associated
with poult enteritis complex, or PEC, has been developed by Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) scientists in
Athens, Ga. This disease of young turkeys causes diarrhea, poor weight gain
and, in some cases, high mortality.

The test relies on a molecular technique called real-time reverse
transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR), which is a highly sensitive
and specific method for detecting viral RNA. Current diagnostic methods for
PEC-associated viruses have limitations because of poor analytic specificity
and sensitivity.

The researchers inoculated turkey poults with each of the
PEC-associated viruses and later collected intestinal tissue samples and
cloacal swabs from the experimentally infected birds. The RRT-PCR test showed
high sensitivity, accurately detecting the target viruses in both the tissues
and swabs.

While intestinal samples have previously been essential to making a
definitive PEC diagnosis, the researchers found that cloacal sampleswhich
are easier to collect and processwere just as suitable for testing. Using
them will not only save time and money, it will also eliminate the need to
euthanize birds for sampling.

The PEC-test technology has been provided to several laboratories for
diagnostic use, and the research team is now working on adapting the RRT-PCR
technique to diagnose related diseases in chickens.